Vidit Gujrathi and Padmini Rout won their second round encounters in contrasting ways to be among the leaders in the World junior chess championship here on Tuesday.
It proved to be a tough day for the top two seeds in the Open section and the girls’ defending champion as far lesser-rated players proved equal to them. Vidit was tested to the hilt by compatriot Vignesh Nr. The Grandmaster finally managed to carve out a victory in a rook-and-pawn ending from a seemingly drawn position.
In contrast, Padmini raced past Croatian Tihana Ivekovic to be among the day’s early leaders.
Leading second round results (Indians unless stated): Open: Bogdan-Daniel Deac (Rou, 1.5) drew with Vladimir Fedoseev (Rus, 1.5); Robin van Kampen (Ned, 1.5) drew with Bai Jinshi (Chn, 1.5); Borya Ider (Fra, 1) lost to Wei Yi (Chn, 2); Vidit Gujrathi (2) bt Vignesh Nr (1); Novak Cabarkapa (Srb, 1) lost to Jorge Cori (Per, 2), Jan-Krzysztof (Pol, 1.5) drew with Prince Bajaj (1.5); Gabriel Gaehwiler (Sui, 2) bt Benjamin Bok (Ned, 1); Karen Grigoryan (Arm, 1.5) drew with Erkin Kozganbay (Kaz, 1.5); Ufuk Sezen Arat (Tur, 2) bt Aleksander Indijic (Srb, 1); Urtnasan Nasanjargal (Mgl, 1) lost to Vladislav Kovalev (Blr, 2).
Girls: Maria Govergyan (Arm, 1.5) drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 1.5); Meri Arabdze (Geo, 2) bt Janelle Mae Frayna (Phi, 1); Daria Pustovoitova (Rus, 2) bt Mila Zarkovic (Srb, 1); Jan Jodilyn Fronda (Phi, 1.5) drew with Mo Zhai (Chn, 1.5) ; Padmini Rout (2) bt Tihana Ivekovic (Cro, 1); Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Vie, 2) bt J. Saranya (1); M. Mahalakshmi (1.5) drew with Marina Brunello (Ita, 1.5); Sabina Ibrahimova (Aze, 1) lost to Pratyusha Bodda (2); Aysa Imeeva (Rus, 2) bt Klara Varga (Hun, 1); Irina Petrukhina (Rus, 2) bt Gk Monnisha (1).
